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Mahan Rykiel Adds Staff07-13-16 | News

Mahan Rykiel Adds Staff
Interns Working on Project at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

New faces at Mahan Rykiel in Baltimore: From left: Bryan McKnight; Karen Kuo; Jeff Dube; Julie Shapiro; Lamonte Tyler; Shi Chen; Steven Roberts; Emily Lansinger and Amina Mohamed.

Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc. (MRA), a Baltimore-based landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm, announces Amina Mohamed and Jeff Dube have joined the staff as landscape designers.

Amina Mohamed graduated in May 2016 with a dual master's degree in landscape architecture and community planning from the University of Maryland, College Park. She was the graduate recipient this spring of the Maryland ASLA's University Olmsted Scholars Award. Her past work includes the study of designed experiments into the educational landscape as well as youth perceptions of local watersheds. Most recently, she examined spatial patterns of urban vacant land in Baltimore as part of her master's thesis. Amina interned with MRA last summer and spring, and joins the firm as a landscape designer in the Institutional and Civic studios.

Jeff Dube received his master of landscape architecture at the University of Michigan. He also received a BS from the University of Vermont in Environmental Science. Jeff seeks to combine his knowledge of ecological science and design to reimagine the contemporary urban landscape so that civic and ecological functions are both met. In addition to his studies, he is active in volunteer efforts for community and volunteer groups. Jeff interned at MRA last summer, and joins the firm as a landscape designer in the Civic Studio.

Lamonte Tyler joins MRA as an IT administrator. Lamont worked for more than 7 years as an IT Supervisor for Fox News. He has masters' degrees in educational technology, library science, information science and information technology, and is currently working on a doctorate in information technology at Walden University. Lamonte is an active and member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Disabled American Veterans and the NAACP.

Emily Lansinger and Steven Roberts have joined the staff to assist in the field on statewide ADA sidewalks Inventory and data collection contracts. Their fieldwork includes the use of GPS devices, iPads, SmartLevels and tape measures. Steven comes to the firm through the Hire One Youth Works program. The program gives employers an opportunity to shape their future workforce by hiring for the summer at least one responsible, job-ready Baltimore resident between the ages of 16-21. This is MRA's fourth year participating in the program. Emily graduated this year from Jacksonville University and will be pursuing a master's degree in Spanish.

Interns
Bryan McKnight joins MRA's Institutional Studio as an intern. He studies landscape architecture at SUNY in the Environmental Sciences and Forestry School and will be a senior in the fall. Bryan feels a commitment to improving the quality and function of outdoor spaces. He loves weaving the creation of civic spaces with the design and planning of ecological and natural systems.

Karen Kuo is a senior at Pennsylvania State University with a passion for community design. She enjoys working closely with people to design engaging community landscapes.

Julie Shapiro is a master of landscape architecture candidate at the University of Virginia, entering her third year this fall. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Oberlin College, with a focus on ecology and plant biology. With experience in agriculture, conservation and youth development, Julie is interested in integrating ecological and social functions in public landscapes.

Shi Chen just completed her first year of graduate school at the Rhode Island School of Design. She holds a bachelor of landscape architecture degree from Chongqing University in China. Inspired by urban and natural systems, she believes that landscape architecture plays an important role in combining both. Her interests also include postindustrial site renovation projects.

In addition to assisting with design work in their studios this summer, the interns will be working on a design-research project for Phase I of the Baltimore Museum of Industry campus master plan. The exploration will document and visualize the relationship between the museum, the Port of Baltimore and the region's larger cultural landscape of industry. The effort will strengthen and reveal ways in which the people of Baltimore, the land and water have and continue to shape our cities and our future.

"We are thrilled to have these new additions to our firm, and they each bring unique and exceptional skills to allow us to continue to grow the practice and expand our research and design capabilities," said Richard Jones, president of MRA.

Mahan Rykiel Associates www.mahanrykiel.com is a minority owned, full service landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm with a staff of 50, including 8 LEED accredited professionals. MRA has an international portfolio with projects in multiple sectors in more than 30 countries.